Sterling County, Texas Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Sterling County, Texas has a population of 1,468, the 238th most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $64,954 and the median home value is $147,000. The poverty rate is 4.3%.

Sterling County Quick Facts

Population 1,46890% MOE ±172

Median Household Income $64,95490% MOE ±$18,855

Median Home Value $147,00090% MOE ±$100,552

Poverty Rate 4.3%90% MOE ±2.9 pts

Unemployment Rate 2.1%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Median Age 32.1 years90% MOE ±4.1 years

Homeownership Rate 77.7%90% MOE ±10.0 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 24.5%90% MOE ±7.7 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 84.0%

Cities/Places 1

Population 1,468 238th of 254

Median Income $64,954 17% lower than state

Poverty Rate 4.3%

Unemployment 2.1%

How Sterling County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	1,231	1,468	+19.3%
Median household income	$73,680	$64,954	No clear change (-11.8%)
Median home value¹	$72,612	$147,000	No clear change (+102.4%)
Median gross rent	$1,046	$952	No clear change (-9.0%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Sterling

$64,954

$78,476

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sterling

$147,000

$283,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.3%

$25K-$50K 21.6%

$50K-$100K 32.3%

$100K+ 37.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.3%

$10K-$15K

2.0%

$15K-$20K

4.0%

$20K-$25K

0.0%

$25K-$30K

6.0%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

9.3%

$40K-$45K

0.8%

$45K-$50K

1.5%

$50K-$60K

10.5%

$60K-$75K

15.8%

$75K-$100K

6.0%

$100K-$125K

4.3%

$125K-$150K

15.3%

$150K-$200K

12.8%

$200K+

5.5%

Employment

2.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%

55.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.7%

Renter 22.3%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $952/mo 17.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

34.7%

18-34

21.4%

35-54

21.8%

55-74

12.3%

75+

9.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Sterling County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Sterling City	1,256	$66,615	3.9%	$134,800

Explore Texas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sterling County is located in Texas with a total population of 1,468. It is the 238th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sterling County is 32.1 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 35.6 years. With 34.7% of the population under 18, Sterling County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sterling County is $64,954. This is 17% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 69% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $147,000. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Sterling County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sterling County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 35.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (62.8% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sterling County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Sterling County, Texas?

Sterling County has a population of 1,468, making it the 238th most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Sterling County?

The median household income in Sterling County is $64,954 with a poverty rate of 4.3%.

How many cities are in Sterling County, Texas?

Sterling County contains 1 Census-designated place.